SALVATORE“Salvatore!”I turned at the sound of Miguel’s voice cutting through the quiet backyard. His curls bounced as he strode toward me. The late sun hit his face, catching the tight pull of worry around his mouth.“Baby.”He didn’t slow down. He wrapped his arms around me so hard and held on like I’d been gone for days. I felt the tension in him, and though I enjoyed the feel of his body against mine, I was a little worried.“I was looking for you,” he said into my jacket, gripping the fabric like he wasn’t sure I was really there. “You were not in the house.”“I just needed air.” I ran a hand down his back. “I didn’t mean to scare you, baby.”“I was calling you.” He pulled back enough to look at me. “I came in and it was too quiet. The kids were napping, and the house was empty. Even Pietro didn’t know—”I rolled. “I said I’m sorry.”His eyes searched mine like he could read what I hadn’t said. I’d been out here thinking—spiralling, if you’d call it that. Ever since Raphael’s c
MIGUEL“Pass me that book on the top shelf, Miguel.” Paul pointed to a fat book. His voice was low and a little raspy, like he hadn’t slept much. I hadn’t too.He nodded toward a thick, dusty tome—something that was about Baroque sculpture—and leaned his weight into the table.I stretched just a little too far and felt the soreness in my arms. “You’re lucky I don’t hate you,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing the book and handing it over with a small grunt. My shoulders ached. Carrying Leo and Isabella around all morning had left me stiff in ways I hadn’t noticed until now.Salvatore had spoiled them with air tosses, and they still didn’t understand that if they wanted to be tossed a hundred times, they should go to their dad. “You love me,” Paul said with a grin, flipping the book open without looking. “More than you love that walking mafia opera back home.”I snorted and slouched against the shelf. “Barely.”He looked up. “You are doing good keeping Salvatore focused on somethin
MIGUELI stirred awake with a low moan, blinking through the haze of sleep. I was really exhausted. I could barely feel my toes. The sheets were warm against my skin, but it wasn’t just the linen that heated me. I swallowed and moaned again. This heat was… inside me.Salvatore was moving inside me slowly, breathing hard against my neck. His arms caged me in place. My legs wrapped tighter around him instinctively and I arched my back as he moved with the kind of rhythm that made my heart stammer.“Couldn’t wait?” I whispered, biting back a small moan.He chuckled softly against my neck. “I knew you'd eventually get up.”I huffed out a laugh, even as I rolled my hips up to meet him. “So you decided that sneaking into me was the best idea?”“I missed you,” he murmured. “And I was feeling… proud.”That made me smile despite the way my body was trembling beneath him. He leaned down to kiss me, pushing in deeper and making my breath catch. I moaned softly before asking, “What did you guys
SALVATOREThe moment we pulled into the driveway, I saw Miguel standing out front in nothing but his black robe. His arms were folded and his eyes cut through the dark like knives. Worry was written all over him, even though he tried to hold it in. His curls were a little messy like he had been pacing.I’m sure that he had been pacing, and I didn’t like that I was the cause of it. I didn’t even let the car fully stop before I opened the door and stepped out.“Miguel,” I called.He was already walking toward me, very fast. Pietro and Luca said nothing. They slipped past us toward the side entrance like shadows. I met Miguel halfway and pulled him into my arms before he could speak. He buried his face in my neck.“You smell like smoke and steel,” he whispered against my collarbone. His voice was rough with sleep and frustration.“We went out for a quick ride,” I murmured, pressing my lips to his temple. “We handled a few things.”He looked up at me, smiling. His eyes shone even in the
SALVATOREThe night tasted like iron and blood. Mostly blood.I moved through the hallway like a shadow, careful not to make a sound. Everyone was asleep. The kids were tucked in with Miguel curled beside them. And this was the perfect time to move.I’d stood by the door for a moment longer than I meant to, watching Miguel in the low light. My fingers itched to go back, but tonight wasn’t about softness. It was about blood.I hated to even think about it, but I missed this thrill.I went straight to Mama’s room. She was sitting at the window swirling a full glass of wine. “I miss having you around.”I smiled at her. “I guess I’m here to correct things now.”“I know you will bring back victory as usual,” she said, looking at me for the first time since I stepped into the room. “Keep your brother and cousin close.”“Yes, Mama. I will deliver the good news in the morning.”*^*^*^*^I found Pietro and Luca waiting outside like statues carved from the dark, dressed in black and already arm
SALVATOREThe door clicked open and Miguel stepped in with Paul trailing behind him. I’d almost thought that they even left the property. Their laughter drifted in from outside like warm sunlight after rain.“Did you two have a nice walk?” I did not even lift my eyes from the book on my lap. I hadn’t read a single page. I’d been staring at the same sentence for twenty minutes because of the kids. They were so distracting.Miguel grinned. “Yeah. We needed the air, and Paul needed to stretch his long legs.”Paul chuckled softly and gave me a small wave as they moved toward the sitting area. He looked more relaxed now after the walk. I didn’t know what was discussed, but I was sure that Miguel had made him feel more comfortable.Before I could say more, the front door creaked again. We all turned toward it.Mama Sofia walked in slowly, dressed in a beige dress that swept around her ankles and a silk scarf perfectly wrapped around her head. Her sunglasses shaded her expression, but I didn